Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-14
The Semi-Annual Conven-
ton at Riverside.
VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS.
Interesting Proceedings OF the
State Board of HOrticul-
ture.
lpelared Correspondence ]

nine members consisting of Hon. Elwood
Cooper. President, A. Block, Santa
Clara, Gen. NJ. G. Vallejo, sonoma, Ed
win Kimball, Howard, w. M. Boggs,
Napa, A. S. Chapman, San Gabriel, d..
C. Wilson, Red Bluffs, w. M. Williams.
Fresno, j. Chester, Secretary. G. v.
Riley, United States Entimologist, is a
visitor by special invitation.
The meeting convened at the Pavilion,
opposite the Glenwooa, at 2 P. M, on
Monday, April llth, and was called to
order by the President. L. M. Holt and
Hon. S. C. Evans were elected addi-
tional Vice Presidents, as it is the custom
at each meeting to elect two local Vice.
Presidents for the session.
The President made brief introduc.
tory address, urging cooperation among
fruit-growers in the destruction of insect
pests, the marketing Of fruits and in a
modification of the very oppressive
Interstate Commerce bill.
Mr.. H. J. Rudisill, of Riverside, was
then introduced and gave the following
excellent
ADDRESS OF WELCOME:
G entlemen of the State Board of Horticu
ture. Members of the Fruit Growers Con
ventton and Friends Of Horticulture:
You meet here to-day for consultation
and for friendly interchange of experience
in matters connected with one of the most
ennobline and dutiful arts to which human
q kLorv oh nd 10 ohoP no dav0tad.
The earlier life of the people OF the Pa
cific Coast, especially under the auspices
OF the American government, was not ia
vorable to horticultural development. 1t
is only within q comparatively recent Pc
riod that local horticultural societies have
been established, or that the State has con-
sidered this coordinate branch OF agricul-
ture as one of sufficient importance to re-
quire q Stale Board of horticulture, to
whom we may look for guidance. advice
This delay in recognizing the value of
such organizations was, no doubt, due fur
therto the influence of that peculiar feature
graphically named over forty years ago as
been recognized as an enemy of horticul-
tural development While this grand ener-
getic element leads us to clear the vast for
ests, build dtransc0nttnentall lines OF railroad
and settle new States with rapidity unpar-
alleled in the history of the world, ON the
other hand, when followed into the bosom
OF society, makes man a feverish being, in
whose Tantalus cup repose is the unattain-
able drop. Unable to take root anywhere,
he leads, socially and physically. the uncer-
tain life of tree transplanted from place to
place, and shifted to q different soil every
season.
It has been shrewdly said that what quail
tiles We do not possess are always in our
mouths. Our countrymen are fonder OF no
one Anglo saxon wosdathan the term settle
1t was the great object of our forefathers
to ind proper place to settle. Every year
large numbers OF our population from the
older states go west to settle; while those
already west pull up with kind of des-.
farther west to settle again. Yet as a apeo-
pie we are never settled. 1t is one of the
1rst points tn at strikes citizen OF the old
world where something OF the dignity OF
repose as we'll as the value Of action enters
Into their ideal life. De Toqueville says
In speaking of this national trait "At first
sight there is something surprising in this
strange unrest of SO many happy men
restless in the midst Of abn nndance. The
spectacle. however. is as old as the world
an emplifcation Of it."
In the United States a man builds house
to spend his latter years In and sells 1t be
fore the roof Is on; he brings beld into
tillage and leaves other men to gather the
crops. he embraces profession. and gives
It up; he settles in place which he soon
leaves In order to carry his changeable
l0ngings elsewhere. If his private affairs
leave him any leisure he instantly plunges
into the vortex of politics, and # at the end
he has a few days vacation, his eager curl
.0sity whirls him over the vast extent OF the
United States, and he will travel fifteen
hundred miles In q few days to shake off
his happiness.
The Condition of the western emigraut is
simply that the long, covered wagon waich
is the Noah's ark Of his preservation is also
the concrete essence OF house and home to
him He emigrates, he squats, he locates;
ne can GG Of e
him; he sells out his "diggins" to some less
person, and, tackling the
wagon of the wilderness. migrates once
more In California this temperament re.
ceiyes a new impetus in the stimulating
climate and the glittering prospects offered
in the numberless opportunities for making
money rapidly. 1t still unfortunately ex-
sts in our midst and its effects are in the
speculation that is spreading with remark
even to the glaciers Of Mount Shasta.
1t is therefore not difficult to see how
strongly horticulture antagOnizas this spirit
and contribu ;es to the development of local
atrachm ents. and in 1t lies the most power
full "philtre" that civilized man has yet
found to charm him to one spot of earth.
1t transforms what is only tame In eadow
and bleak aspect into an Eden Of interest
and delight: it makes all the difference
between Araby the blest and q desert plain.
II gives a bit OF soil too Insignificant to find
a place in the geography of the earth's sur
face such au importance in the eyes of its
possessor that he finds 1t more attractive
than countless acres of unknown and unex-
plored territory. In other words 1t contains
the mind and soul OF the man, materialized
in many of the fairest and richest forms of
nature. SO that he looks upon 1t as tearing
himself up root and branch to ask him to
move mile to the right or left. Is it nee
sssry to sa more to prove that It is the pa.
nacea that really settles mankind? But If
not proven, may we not fairly assume that
this "spisit of unrest" will find its quietus
on the Pacific coast, as there is no more
land west of us to be explored and devel-
oped, and a repose VIII be allowed TO the
In all that territory from the Atlantic to the
As a result, horticulture in Cali
fornia, in its aesthetic as well as Its financial
features. has already entered upon the
grandest period OF oeVelopment the world
has ever witnessed.
! The opportunities and possibilities for
development within the bor-
bers OF the State of California are positively
and unparalleled In the history
Of man since his expulsion from Paradise.
When we consider the peculiar topography
Of the State, understanding only por-
tion OF what is claimed for it-gives US
central citrus fruit growing belt extending
Through nearly twelve degrees of latitude;
A raisin-producing district nearly as great
Iu extent, b tn bordered on all sides with |
territory that will produce many other |
remi tropical fruits and all the deciduous |
Fruits known to the civilized world, climate |
healthful and invigorating and free from |
The extremes Of either semi-tropic or semi |
fririd zones, wealthy and populous CONT. |
nent for q market, aud over all stable and
prosperous government at peace with all
the world "and the rest OF mankind, we
must drnit, repeat that we are not extrav-
aQant when we claim that the conditions
for the future growth OF horticulture in
Califernia are unequalled and unparalleled |
In the history OF nations.
our state Board and Horticulturists occu.
nv enyiable and yet responsible positions |
an d In providing for the cultivation of the |
dnest varieties Of fruits and flowers and the |
to all parts OF the State OF |
these. and the finest species of vegetable pre-
ducfious. they are engaged in q work that /
entities them to the cordial support of every /
NV town and hamlet OF the State.
Therefore In common with my fellow |
.ltixens OF Riverside and vicinity take /
rrest ple asure in greeting so many distin. |
2uished workers in the different depart |
a enfs Of horticulture both from home and |
abroad and in behalf of our fruit growers |